A recent WHO data shows that misuse of antibiotic in animals transmits resistant bacteria from animals to humans. In order to check this cause of treatment failure, the government is formulating a mechanism to regulate antibiotic use among animals.

The government is planning to come up with a strict regulatory and monitoring mechanism to control rampant misuse of antibiotics among animals that causes antibiotics resistance among people.

Under its National Policy for Containment of Antimicrobial Resistance the government is planning to regulate usage of antimicrobials in poultry and other animals.

The government will keep a strict watch on poultry farms and livestock to check use of antibiotics and it will make mandatory for food products to carry information regarding the usage of antibiotics.

According to World Health Organisation (WHO), more than half of global production of antibiotics is used on farm animals. In last 30 years the use of penicillin-type drugs in farm animals has increased by 600%.

In India, antibiotics are widely used in food animals for therapeutic treatment and growth promotion in farms that are often in unhygienic conditions. There is no regulatory provision regarding the use of antibiotics in livestock even though Prevention of Food Adulteration Rules to some extent regulate use of antibiotics and other pharmacologically active substances in sea foods including shrimps, prawns or any other variety offish.

According to WHO, there is sufficient evidence showing that the major transmission pathway for resistant bacteria is from food animals to humans leading to increased frequency of treatment failure and severity of infections.

Meanwhile, for monitoring use and misuse of antibiotics among people, a separate section (Schedule H1) will be introduced under the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules to regulate sale of antibiotics.